Court Denies Bail For William Spedding Facing Child Abuse Charges

William Harrie Spedding was denied bail in the Port Macquarie Local Court on Thursday. The 63-year-old was arrested on Wednesday over alleged child sex abuse in the ‘80s.

Spedding was wearing a grey jumper and a blue shirt when he appeared in court. He waved to his wife and she nodded in response. He hardly showed any emotion when the judge refused bail. He waved to his wife again while leaving the court.

The Whitegoods repairman is facing two counts of common assault and five charges of sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 10. The charges involve two girls from Campbelltown in Sydney. The girls, aged three and six, were involved in the alleged sex abuse in 1987.

Spedding is believed to a person of interest in the disappearance of William Tyrrell. The three-year-old New South Wales toddler disappeared while playing in his grandma’s yard in Kendall. The incident had taken place in September 2014 but police failed to find any clue about the disappearance yet.

Detectives named Spedding as a person of interest in the Tyrell case after they came to know that he had visited Tyrrell’s grandma’s place on Sept. 12, the day the child had disappeared. He was due to return to fix a faulty washing machine later.

Investigating officers earlier said that the disappearance might be connected to a paedophile ring. A team of detectives that includes officers from the Sex Crimes Squad is working on the case.

According to Strike Force Rosann's commander Detective Inspector Gary Jubelin, the charges against Spedding were not related to the disappearance of Tyrell. Officers earlier searched Spedding’s property in search of the toddler. Police initially investigated the alleged sex abuse in the ’80 when Spedding denied the allegations.

According to Spedding lawyer Robert Hoyles, his client denies the allegations now as well. "One might say Mr Spedding will deny these allegations until his final breath," Hoyles said. The lawyer argued that his client had no criminal record. He said that it would be a great injustice to detain Spedding. The case is adjourned until Jun. 18.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au